Bicycle-lamp



No; 626,627. Patented June 6, I899.

E. D. MIDDLEKAUFF.

BICYCLE LAMP.

(Application filed May 21, 1898.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

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Wm M //s wol'ffi p. Middle/(duff? No. 626,627. Patented lune 6, I899.

E. n. MIDDLEKAUFF.

BICYCLE LAMP.

(Application filed Kay 21, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrlcizl.

I ELLSWORTI-I D. MIDDLEKAUFF, OF SANFRANOISOO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM E. HALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,627, dated June 6, 1899.

Application filed May 21, 1898. Serial No. 681,295. (No modell) To all whom it may con/eerie.-

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH D. MIDDLE- KAUFF, of the city of San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bicycle-lamps, and particularly to electric lamps for bicycles and like vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a small, light, and compact electric lamp for bicycles; and a particular object of the invention is to provide a portable electric lamp which may be easily attached to a bicycle or other vehicle and which may be detach ed from terial and is hinged to the box.

the same and carried as a hand-lantern and which will be automatically extinguished when the lamp is set down, whereby the energy of the battery will be conserved.

My invention consists in a portable electric lamp comprising a suitable box or casing for the batteries, a lamp-fixture provided thereon, a switch for completing the electric circuit of the lamp and the batteries, and an automatic switch for breaking said circuit when the device is placed upon a table or other fiat surface. I

The invention further consists in various constructions, and in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing's, forming part of this specification, and in whichv Figure 1 illustrates a portable lamp embodying my invention attached to a bicycle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the de- Fig.3 is a perspective sectional view vice. showing the casing and the electric switches. Fig. 4 shows the top of the casing or box. Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing the batteries and the paper box containing the same.

As shown in the drawings, 2 represents a sheet-metal box or casing provided with the cover 3, which is preferably of insulating ma- Upon the end of the box is a reflector 4, containing a glass or lens5 and provided with a lampsocket 6 to receive the small electric lamp or bulb 7. The electric-switch device stands upright in the middle of the box and comprises the tube 8, having a cover 9, of insulating material, and resting in the socket 10, provided in the bottom of the box. The upper end 11 of the tube is of metal, and the lower end 12 is of insulating material. A small metal plunger 13 is provided in the upper end of the tube, and a similar plunger 14 is provided in the lower end thereof, and the two are connected and pressed outwardly by a spring 15 within the tube. The plunger 14. extends through a small hole 16 in the bottom of the box, and when the box is lifted the small collar 17 upon the plunger 14 will drop upon the metal bottom of the box or casing, thereby connecting the otherwise-insulated plunger 13 with the metal box or casing. When the box is placed upon a table or other fiat surface, the plunger 14. will be forced upward to break the connection between the same and the metal box. v

The batteries which I employ are small dry cells 18. Four of these are placed in a box 19, of insulating material, preferably paper.

This box fits into the metal box or casing 2, .and there is room in the center between the batteries for the central tube 8, the paper box having a hole in its bottom to permit it to be dropped down over the switch-tube 8. The dry cells have, metal casings and are protected from one another by the usual paper covers. These cells are connected with one another in series by light spring-strips 20, extending from the zinc case of one cell to the carbon pole 21 in the middle of the next cell,

as shown in Fig. 5. A hole 22 is cut in the side of the paper box 19, and a contact-spring 23' projects through the same, said spring being soldered to the metal case of the last battery of the series. When the box containing the batteries is placed in the metal box or casing of the lamp, the spring 23 will'press upon the metal contact 24. in the butt of the 5 electric lamp 7. The other terminal of the lamp is the metal sleeve thereof, which is screwed into the socket 6 in the side of the metal box 2. The cover 3 of the box is provided with two contact-sprin gs 25 and 26, which when the cover is closed press upon the metal buttons or carbon polesof the first jgwo batteries of the series within the paper 27 represents a metal screw or button set in the center of the cover and adapted to press upon the plunger 13 when the cover is closed. 011 the, top of the cover I provide the sliding switch 28, preferably a simple slotted; bar held by two screws 29, to one of which the ,button 27 .is electrically connected by a wire 30, embedded in the cover 3. The switch 28 is adapted to make contact with the points 31 and 32, which are preferably the heads of the screws, or rivetsv by which the springs 25. and 26 are secured. The space between the points 31 and 32 is greater than thatbetween the contact-points or poles 33 and 34 of the bar 28,. so. that when the bar-is first moved the point. 33 thereon will make contact; with the point 31, and when the bar ismoved still 31 will be broken and thebar will engageethe contact 32. The contact. 3L and thespring connectwith the central poleof the;sec- 0nd cell within the lamp-casing-, and hence when the switch 28 is placed in cont-actwiththepoint 31 the electric circuitwi-ll. be com.-

pleted through but three of" the; cells,,whileifi cover is'rcleased from the hook or;l-at,ch 3.5 it

will. bepushedopen by'thespringstud. 132.

The lamp box or casing 2 has the socket 2 6. onthe back to receive thetong-ue 31 oi the adjustable damp or bracket; 38, whereby-the, device is. secured-i upon the bicycle-,aa shown in, Fig. 1. To.- prevent the detachmen-tof the, lampexceptby intent I: provide the socket 36. with a small spring or-catch: 39-, that drops. into arecessor notch 40inthe-pant 3 7,:when; the. lamptisi placed thereon. In. addition to, the bracket. the lamp; is preferably. provided with. abailAtl', wherebyit maybecarnied from, placetolplace. I' regard the. automatic citcult-breaker in the bottom of the lamp: as of particular importance in. this class of; port able lamps, as the batteries are-of small-nae paeity and short life, andv the device would sible for acareless. person to leave, thev same burning when. the light was not actually needed As iti's arranged the lamp is extinguished by the breaking of the circuit the moment that the lamp is put down by the person carrying the same, it being unnecessary to shift the manual-switch, upon the topvof the lamp when the lamp is left.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a portable electric lamp, the'combination,with a suitable body or casing containing the batteries, of an electric lamp connected witli said batteries and upon said casing, a ci rcuit=clbsing switch, and an automatic switch provided on the bottom of said casing =to break the circuit between said lamp and isaid battenies, when the die-vice isset. down,

,of; the reflector thereon, the, electric lamp substantially as described. farther the contactbetweenthepoints33and 2. The combinatiomwith:thebox creasing therein, thebattery-cells providedinsaid box, means connecting the same withsaid, lam p, a i; two-pole, switch in circuit therewith, and an 1 automatic, circuitebreaker operatedwhen the r. lamp is set down, substantially as described Theco-mbination, with the box or casiu g, of therefl'ector, the lamp; therein, theba-tterycells prouided in said box creasing, the cover gfior' said. box or; casing, having contact devices;, the. switch device extending between.- the bottom of the box andsaidcover and provided with; a circuit-breaking switch-plunger extending throng-lath ebottom of the box, sub stantially, as described.

4. The-jcombi-natiomwith the. metal box or casing-,ofithe: box ofi insulating mate-rial prouidedl therein, the battery-cells arranged therein and pnoyidedwith; aterini nal: extend ingthroughtheside. ofi' said box of insulating material,' the electric-lamp. socket provided upon the-side of said; metal. box opposite-the battery contact or terminal, a lid' or cover for said metal box, the opposite terminal of said batteries-arranged upon said. lid or cover, and the-yertically operative contact or switch devicefl l iflin'ged: in said.- box, en gaging the terminal upon said lid andconnecting thesamewith; said metal, box, and operable to disconnectthe samethercfirom automatically when the lamp is: set down, substantially as described.

In. testimonywhereof L have, hereunto set my'hand, this 18th day of May,.l8 98, at Min.- neapolis- Minnesota...

ELIJSWO'RTH D; llllDDLEKAUFF.

In presence of-" G. G. HAWLEY, M. E. Goonnu'. 

